This article provides an in-depth guide on the nutritional value, benefits, and best uses of popular feeder insects like mealworms, superworms, waxworms, and more. Black soldier fly larvae, also known as “NutriGrubs”, are the larval form of the Hermetia illucens fly. These worms are easy to store, low-maintenance, and nutritionally well-balanced, although they are higher in fat.
Reptiles that receive a variety of appropriate, well gut-loaded feeder insects in their diet are more likely to be healthier and live longer than those that do not. Discover the best staple feeder insects for your reptile’s diet, including crickets, mealworms, dubia roaches, and hornworms. Mealworms are a popular feeder insect for reptiles, particularly for smaller species, as they are high in protein, fat, and fiber. Superworms, also known as king worms or morio worms, are gaining popularity due to their less smelly nature, quick breeding, and easier to keep alive young.
The top staple feeder insects for reptiles include crickets, discoid roaches, black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), silkworms, crickets, wood roaches, silkworms, and hornworms. Crickets have 20 protein compared to mealworms’ 10, while mealworms have 10 protein. Wood roaches are rich in protein and low in fat, while silkworms or hornworms can be a good staple feeder if your reptiles accept them.
In conclusion, this comprehensive guide offers a comprehensive overview of the best staple feeder insects for reptiles, helping you make informed choices tailored to your pet’s needs.
| Article | Description | Site |
|---|---|---|
| What’s a good staple feeder insect for these dudes? … | Staple bugs: Dubia roaches, discoid Roaches, black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), silkworms, crickets. Treats: Mealworms, superworms, hornworms. | reddit.com |
| The Best Staple Feeder Insects for Reptiles | The Best Staple Feeder Insects for Reptiles · Black Soldier Fly Larvae · Crickets · Discoid Roaches · Dubia Roaches · Hornworms · Red Runner … | reptilesupply.com |
| How to Keep Live Food for Your Pet Reptile | Many pet reptiles love insects, with crickets being the go-to choice. However, dubia roaches are a great alternative to crickets and are gaining in popularity. | zillarules.com |
📹 Which Feeder Worms are Best for your Reptile?
In this video we compare the nutritional values of seven different feeder worms readily available to reptile keepers. Which are the …
Which Insect Has The Highest Fat Content?
Caterpillars, belonging to the Lepidoptera order, have one of the highest fat contents among insects, with total fat content ranging from 8. 6 to 15. 2 g per 100 g. In contrast, grasshoppers (Orthoptera) have a lower fat content, between 3. 8 g and 5. 3 g per 100 g. The mealworm and mulberry silkworm were noted for having the highest levels of unsaturated fatty acids, while the mulberry silkworm also boasts the highest omega-3 content at 13. 7% of total lipids.
Edible insect species were classified based on fat content, with the African palm weevil demonstrating the highest at 50. 88%. The phospholipid fraction in most insects contains a significant level of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which may provide protective health benefits.
Insects are a beneficial source of healthy fats, with crickets offering an optimal omega 3:6 balance, contrasting with fish that may contain heavy metals. The insect Encosternum delegorguei consumed in Zimbabwe has a fat content of 50. 6%, while the mopane caterpillar (Gonimbrasia belina) features a similarly high fat content. Along with protein, insects are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, which are crucial for human nutrition and health. Unsaturated fatty acids predominantly make up the fat content in various insect species, while saturated fatty acids are present in lesser proportions.
In total, edible insects generally contain a fat content that ranges widely from 10% to 60%, predominantly made up of unsaturated fats. Thus, they demonstrate significant nutritional value by providing essential fatty acids critical for a balanced human diet.
What Bugs Can Beardies Not Eat?
It is crucial to avoid feeding your bearded dragon fireflies (lightning bugs), ladybugs, and Box elder bugs due to their harmful effects. Fireflies contain toxins called lucibufagins, which can be lethal to bearded dragons. Safe insects for them to consume include rolly pollies (woodlice), which are small crustaceans found in various environments and are safe for their diet. Crickets are another popular choice, providing a good source of protein and calcium. However, certain foods should be strictly avoided, including wild-caught bugs, iceberg lettuce, onions, chives, mushrooms, garlic, rhubarb, avocados, and eggplants due to their potential harm.
Maintaining informed dietary practices is essential for your bearded dragon's well-being. Generally, if humans can’t eat something for health reasons, it’s best to avoid it for your reptile as well. Insects that pose a risk include those found in gardens, as they may carry parasites or diseases. While bearded dragons require a mix of live insects for optimal health, overfeeding insects can lead them to refuse greens and affect their nutrition negatively.
For a balanced diet, consider including dubia roaches, crickets, and soldier fly larvae (calci-worms or Phoenix worms). It's important to gut-load insects before feeding to ensure the best nutrition for your bearded dragon. Additionally, during shedding periods, dragons may eat less, so providing variety in their insect diet can help prevent preferential eating habits.
What Are The Healthiest Feeder Insects?
Dubia roaches are considered the most nutritious and user-friendly feeder insects, prompting their popularity among pet owners. Unlike mealworms, which can cause impaction in bearded dragons, Dubia roaches are a top staple. However, a diverse diet is crucial; dragons and leopard geckos rely on live crickets and superworms for survival. Keeping feeder insects alive is essential, as dead ones quickly lose nutritional value, and many reptiles refuse to eat non-moving insects. Proper care and monitoring for parasites are vital for ensuring a healthy diet for pet reptiles.
A varied diet of live feeder insects is key for optimal nutrition. Important nutrients for reptiles include protein, necessary for muscle building, and various others that contribute to overall health. It's crucial to provide a mix of staple and occasional feeder insects for the best nutrient variety. Popular high-protein feeder insects include superworms, which are similar to Dubia roaches in nutritional value, though they have slightly more fat. Mealworms, waxworms, and wood roaches are also favored choices.
Other live feeder insects used include black soldier fly larvae, crickets, dermestids, earthworms, and various fly species. A recent analysis showed that commercially raised feeder insects could enhance their nutrient content through special diets. Roaches, particularly Lobster and Dubia varieties, have gained popularity due to their substantial protein content. In summary, it's essential to provide a well-rounded selection of feeder insects to maintain the health and happiness of insect-eating reptiles.
Are Crickets Or Dubia Roaches Better For Bearded Dragons?
Dubia roaches are increasingly favored over crickets as feeder insects for pets like bearded dragons, geckos, chameleons, and tarantulas due to their superior nutritional value and ease of digestion. This guide highlights the advantages and potential drawbacks of both Dubia roaches and crickets, aiding pet owners in making informed decisions about the best dietary options for their exotic animals.
One of the primary benefits of Dubia roaches is their higher protein content, averaging around 22% compared to crickets' 15%. This makes them a more nutritious choice, supporting muscle growth and overall health in reptiles. Additionally, Dubia roaches have a more balanced calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, which is crucial for bone development and maintenance. Their lower fiber content and reduced chitin in the exoskeleton make them easier for dragons, especially older ones, to digest, promoting better nutrient absorption.
Beyond nutrition, Dubia roaches offer practical advantages for pet owners. They are quieter and produce fewer odors when properly contained, unlike crickets, which can be noisy and smelly. Their docile nature makes them easier to handle, as they are less likely to escape or cause stress by jumping and climbing, a common behavior in crickets. This docility also means that Dubia roaches are easier for reptiles to catch, reducing feeding stress for both the pet and the owner.
From a logistical standpoint, Dubia roaches are more filling, requiring fewer insects per feeding session compared to crickets. This efficiency not only saves time but also reduces the quantity needed, making them a cost-effective option in the long run. Additionally, Dubia roaches have a longer lifespan and reproduce more slowly than crickets, which can lead to a more stable and manageable feeder population.
Nutritionally, Dubia roaches surpass crickets by providing more calcium, fat, and ash, essential nutrients for the health of reptiles. Their higher meat content means that fewer individuals are needed to meet dietary requirements, enhancing feeding efficiency. While crickets remain a popular choice due to their accessibility and decent nutritional profile, the balanced nutrients, higher digestibility, and ease of handling make Dubia roaches a superior option for many reptile enthusiasts aiming to optimize their pets' diets and overall well-being.
How Do You Gut Load Insects For Reptiles?
Feeding feeder insects, like dubia roaches, nutrient-rich foods for 3 days before offering them to reptiles is considered sufficient. Insects must have constant access to these foods, as they quickly consume and excrete waste. This practice, known as gut loading, is essential for providing a balanced, nutritious diet for reptiles and amphibians. By ensuring insects are well-fed, their nutritional value is optimized, enhancing the diet of the pet reptiles. It’s important to selectively feed only healthy insects to your reptiles and to discard any dead ones from the enclosure.
The ideal gut loading period for feeder insects is between 24 to 72 hours, depending on the specific needs. A nutrient-rich gut load can consist of dark leafy greens, fruits, vegetables such as squash, and grain products, with tropical fish flakes also being a good option due to their protein content. Carrots are particularly effective for gut loading because they provide high nutrition and lower water content. When preparing to feed your reptiles, dust the insects with a calcium supplement without Vitamin D to prevent overdose.
Gut loading mimics the nutrient presence in the digestive tract of wild insects, thereby enhancing your pet's overall nutrition. By executing this strategic feeding process, you can significantly improve the health and vitality of your pet reptiles or amphibians. This guide offers critical information on how to gut load insects efficiently to provide the best possible nutrition for your animals.
What Insect Has The Most Nutrients?
Termites are notably rich in minerals, particularly magnesium and manganese, with concentrations significantly higher than other insects. They provide a complete nutritional profile, including animal protein, beneficial fats, vitamins, antioxidants, and prebiotic fiber. Consumed whole, insects offer more bioavailable nutrients compared to conventional livestock. Among edible insects, termites and caterpillars are favored, but other orders like Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, and Coleoptera are also popular globally.
Insects are recognized for their nutritional density, comprising macronutrients crucial for human life and bioactive compounds found in plants. Studies from 2011 to 2022 have highlighted edible insects' protein content and fat conversion ratios, revealing that species like crickets, mealworms, and black soldier flies yield more protein with significantly less feed compared to traditional livestock.
Termites, in particular, are noted for their high protein and vitamin B12 content, along with beneficial fat – sometimes comprising up to 43% of their dry weight. The nutritional value of insects is comparable to commonly consumed meats, making them an enticing option for sustainable food sources. With over 2, 000 recognized edible insect species, the consumption of insects is entrenched in various cultures worldwide. Among them, crickets excel in providing iron, even surpassing beef.
In summary, edible insects present a highly nutritious, alternative food resource rich in protein, fats, and essential minerals, positioning them as a vital part of future diets beyond merely addressing food scarcity.
Are Dried Dubia Roaches Good For Bearded Dragons?
Dubia roaches are an excellent feeder insect for bearded dragons, offering the high-quality protein and essential nutrients these reptiles require. Comprising approximately 54% protein by weight, Blaptica Dubia closely matches the protein content of primary insects found in a bearded dragon's natural diet, making them an ideal staple. Beyond protein, Dubia roaches are rich in calcium and vitamin A, contributing to the overall health and well-being of bearded dragons.
Bearded dragons not only benefit nutritionally from Dubia roaches, but they also find them tasty and enjoyable to eat. This dual appeal makes Dubia roaches a favored choice among both pet owners and the dragons themselves. Compared to other feeder insects like crickets, Dubia roaches provide a more balanced nutrient profile with lower fat content, supporting healthy activity levels and longevity in captivity.
Originating from southern Australia, the bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) has become a popular pet in the United States since the 1990s. When properly cared for, these lizards are warm, engaging, curious, and can live long, healthy lives. Ensuring their diet includes nutritious feeders like Dubia roaches is crucial for their health and vitality.
While live insects are preferred to mimic natural hunting behaviors, dried and canned insects can also be used to add variety and sensory enrichment to a bearded dragon's diet. However, live Dubia roaches remain the top choice due to their superior nutritional value and ease of maintenance. It's recommended to gut-load Dubia roaches before feeding them to maximize their nutritional benefit.
Overall, Dubia roaches are a nutritious, affordable, and easy-to-keep feeder insect that significantly contributes to the health and happiness of bearded dragons, making them a superior option compared to other available feeder insects.
Are Canned Insects Good For Reptiles?
To effectively feed insect-eating reptiles and amphibians, it is essential to provide a diverse range of species-appropriate foods. While live insects are often considered the best option for pets, incorporating dried and canned insects can enhance nutritional variety and provide sensory enrichment. The market is increasingly offering canned whole prey, which serves as a convenient alternative to live feeding, especially for those who may not have the time to collect or culture insects. Tools like Zoo Med’s Bug Napper can aid in collecting insects, and culturing species such as sow bugs is another viable option, though time-consuming for many owners.
In the wild, reptiles and amphibians consume a wide array of prey species, often numbering in the dozens or hundreds, which makes a captive diet limited to just 2-3 types insufficient for their health. Canned insects, such as Symton Large Dubia Roaches, offer a preserved and palatable treat that maintains nutritional value and can be stored for up to three years unopened. However, it is important to choose appropriate sizes for different life stages; for instance, baby reptiles require smaller insects like 1/4 inch live crickets or dubia roaches.
Canned insects not only provide a reliable protein source but also help ensure the insects are free from parasites, a common issue with wild-caught feeders like crickets. Avoiding wild-caught insects and earthworms is recommended to prevent potential health risks. Additionally, canned insects are suitable for other animals, including freshwater and marine fish, which can consume them either free-fed or from feeding plates.
Overall, integrating live, dried, and canned insects into the diet of insect-eating reptiles and amphibians supports their nutritional needs, promotes diversity, and offers practical feeding solutions for pet owners.
What'S The Best Insect To Feed A Bearded Dragon?
The ideal insects for feeding bearded dragons are dubia roaches, calciworms, and locusts. Dubia roaches are a staple choice due to their excellent nutritional value, making them particularly beneficial for younger beardies because of their high calcium content. Calciworms also provide important nutrients for young dragons. Locusts are a great low-fat option for adults, encouraging them to engage in hunting behavior. While these insects should form the basis of a bearded dragon's diet, it's essential to introduce variety to ensure balanced nutrition.
Alongside dubia roaches, feeding crickets, mealworms, hornworms, and other insects enhances dietary diversity. Black soldier fly larvae are another calcium-rich option that doesn't require gut-loading or additional calcium dusting. For a well-rounded diet, include insects like phoenix worms and butter worms as well. In summary, while dubia roaches and calciworms are top picks, incorporating a broader range of insects, including locusts and crickets, supports the health and vitality of bearded dragons. It's advisable to source these feeder insects from local pet shops or consider bulk purchasing for cost efficiency.
What Are Low Fat Insects For Reptiles?
Dubia roaches are a healthy, low-fat feeding option for reptiles, particularly beneficial for those that may be overweight. They provide an essential balance of calcium and phosphorus, vital for bone strength and metabolic health. When choosing gut-load for insects, it should be nontoxic and tailored to their nutritional needs, including ingredients like alfalfa, spirulina, and calcium carbonate. A varied diet of well-gut-loaded feeder insects is linked to better health and longevity in reptiles.
This article discusses top nutrient-rich feeder insects for reptiles, including buffalo beetles and silkworms, emphasizing the importance of using a range of insects to ensure a complete diet. Hornworms, known for low fat content, are favored in the reptile community. Crickets, popular among reptile owners, are protein-rich and low in fat but should be offered in moderation due to higher calorie content.
Mealworms are commonly used but are higher in fat and protein. Superworms, resembling king worms, also serve as a nutritious option. Silkworms contribute essential amino acids for growth and are low in fat, while crickets provide good protein with a favorable calcium-to-phosphorus ratio.
Insects like butterworms and black soldier fly larvae offer varying nutritional profiles. Earthworms are a good calcium source but may not be as appealing to reptiles compared to other insects. Ultimately, maintaining a balanced diet with a selection of insects—such as crickets, silkworms, fruit flies, and Dubia roaches—will support the health and vitality of pet reptiles.
📹 Top 5 Insect Feeders for Reptiles and Amphibians
If you keep reptiles or amphibians as pets, odds are that you need a lot of insect feeders. But, which are the best ones? Clint looks …
Awesome article, if you need a much larger feeder than Dubia roaches you can try Blaberus fusca, Blaberus discoidalis, Blaberus giganeteus, but if you want smaller feeder roaches you can use Red runner roaches(watch out, they breed like roaches!), lobster roachs/nauphoeta cinerea, eublaberis posticus, eublaberus sp. ivory, oxyhaloa deusta/red head roaches, and gyna caffrorum(chrome roach). Red runners are cricket sized and can’t climb smooth surfaces and are very active. The blaberus species are active and big which make good feeders for monitors and tegus. Eublaberus sp. are awesome and some even use them for compost, and lobster roaches breed like crazy but can climb smooth surfaces. Hope this helps!
I’m a little surprised you didn’t mention the potential of the different life cycles of, say, the meal worm beetle. I’ve generally heard that they should be used as an occasional treat as their exoskeleton may cause issues for some reptiles. Some discourage it completely. I’m okay with the occasional pupa, especially freshly molted, and imago for larger, crunching lizards. I found earth worms quite a liked treat as well as being very useful as cast generators for my competing and fertilizing needs.
I can’t believe that insects are my kryptonite. I can deal with feeding dead rodents, but the thought of having to touch a maggot makes me physically itchy. 😂 It is absolutely relieving to know that we have engineered fruit walks. But by far the best thing in this article is the sound effects given to the mealworm beetle at the end.
I recently adopted a desert box turtle and a bearded dragon! They’re awesome!! I’m a little confused about how often and how many insects to feed my beardie, Jasper. I’ve been told different things by different sources and would like to know what you recommend. He is between 5-7 months old. Also need to get over being creeped out by the feeders! Really enjoying your articles! great, fun, wholesome, and fasinating content. Animals are the BEST. I also have 4 parrots. Total advocate for adoption from a rescue too; no matter what type of “pet” or companion. ❤️🦎🐢🦜🐍❤️
I am glad dubias are #1 because they’re my favorite too! But you forgot 2 major pros and 2 major cons about them: Pros: -they are slow (at least compared to many other roaches) -they are very quiet. Cons: -They have hard exoskeletons. -They take relatively long to breed and they don’t produce that many babies at once either. So it’s a bit harder to start from a small amount. You need to have alot of them from the beginning (which I think you should do anyway).
Some years ago there used to be service where you could send boxes on train. My mom worked at it, she give boxes on trains and take the ones that went into her station (ou change to other direction). One of most common customers were people sending cricket feeder. noice was incredibly annoying and sometimes few of them manages to get out of box and stridulates for day. No suprise my mom hates crickets to these day.
I know this article is a bit older, but adding to the mealworms: If you feed them to jumping spiders, add one at a time and observe if your spider actually ate it before adding more. If you got mealworms turning into beetles in your jumping spider enclosure, it could be bad news for your spider, as beetles got strong bites and could potentially harm it.
I love the detailed explanation you give about the feeder insects. I forgot I had purchased a small container of mealworms and a few months later I found I had a small colony of beetle and babies tucked away in my closet. It was a surprise. I was curious if you think hornworms and silkworms would make good feeders in your opinion. I know they aren’t the easiest to raise or to come by. Also I love your articles and the one on crested geckos really helped me decide on getting a crestie too.
I was so bummed when I found out dubia roaches were illegal in my state. Then I found out about discoid roaches and found a local breeder 20 minutes from my house. My reptiles and amphibians are thriving now better than they were on other feeders. Got them on a great gutload rotating organic vegetables in a few times a week. Nothing better than seeing my babies thrive!t
Great content and right on the money. I’ve had a panther chameleon for 4 months. Won’t touch dubia’s. He only eats superworms and horn worms. I’ve put the dubia’s and the worms in the feeder cup. Only the worms are left. This can’t be a balanced diet and I’ll go broke on the horn worms. Any ideas? Thanks.
This was great because I have two fire skinks two created Geckos and two leopard geckos for right now the main diet for all three is meal worms and crickets and every third day I will dust the crickets with the supplements for them but the crested geckos I have this supplement I have gotten from the expo what they said it’s good for the crested when they’re young so I’m using it but I rarely see them touch it so I don’t know but this article helped me to look more options so thanks man
Hey Mr.clint I love your articles I have learned an intense amount about my animals from you. I just recently got a baby Savannah monitor and was wondering what other type of roach I could use as a feeder. See here in Florida dubia roaches are illegal. You can get very hefty state fines for keeping them here in Florida. I could really use your help figuring out a good roach feeder for my monitor friend.
I bought a lot of I think 2000 superworms way back in the beginning of December (bought a few hundred dubias too), and there’s still some left in my bin. My dang beardie decided to brumate for a few months like two weeks after I got them so they were just sitting in my closet for three months. 🤷🏼♀️
I love insects, had lots of mealworm beetles / darkling beetles for my quails. I fed half the worms to the quails and the other half that made it to beetles got to live ^ω^ I could recognise some through the tiniest indents or whatever and named some my favourite was my first ever beetle whome I named Wake and one I called lil red (as for some reason it stayed reddish !) I raised them on chick crumb stuff that I used for my quails, I ground it up and used that and they LOVED it I enjoyed delegating pupa and perusal them hatch out I was very used to spotting the ‘C’ curl and putting them into a tub to pupate. So cute. Got pictures of them doing stupid poses lol. I really hope to have them once again 🙂 maybe even try out those super worms. So thanks for the info.
I am currently raising dubia roaches for my scorpions. I don’t like crickets for the reasons you said. Also, a few years ago, I had some crickets hide in the background of my emperor scorpion enclosure, and they bred. Needless to say, the crickets ate my scorpions. For that reason alone I won’t ever use them for scorpions again.
Oh fruit flies. In my highschool AP biology class I had to do a whole project on fruit fly genetics. We went with all wingless flies since it makes them easier to work with. Unfortunately due to either a freak mutation or mistake with labeling a flying fly got mixed in with our flightless flies and within a few generations all our flies had wings. It was a pain and I’m not sure I could subject myself to it again.
One con for mealworms nobody ever seems to talk about, at least when it comes to raising your own, is how easy it is for their enclosures to attract pests… no matter how careful I am, I always, ALWAYS seem to get a grain moth infestation after establishing some mealworm colonies, and they’re not easy to get rid of.
I have pretty severe entomophobia when it comes to most large insects and especially when it comes to roaches. This article was hard to watch as a result. But great as always and it taught me even more that New Caledonian geckos and their powder diets are for me. Maybe snakes too, frozen rodents don’t freak me out nearly as much as live insects.
For anyone curious about how easy it is really to care for mealworms my school gave my whole year four mealworms each to look after in grade 3 to learn about metamorphasis we cared from them until they turned into beetles. Most people lost maybe 1 and thats just because we would handle them and sometimes we would drop one and it would disappear
Dubia roaches are my favorite feeder insects I agree they are perfect feeder insects, but the one and only biggest problem is when they hide and specifically my lizards they are hunters so if they see an insect moving they will eat but when you drop a dubia roach in the tank they usually hide or mostly stay in one place for a good while that my lizards would completely ignore it.
1 – this is why I want a Uromastyx. No insect feeders. 2 – could you do a next top 5? Wondering why the black soldier fly/larva wasn’t listed as the top 5. Similar to dubia roaches in that they eat anything. Set up the container right and they harvest themselves! We’re going to do BSL just for compost reasons.
A few points/questions I would like to make on the dubia roaches. After doing some research on breeding, I saw that it was mentioned that breeding them makes you quite prone to developing an allergy. Have you heard anything about this? I also think it would have been worth mentioning that they are actually illegal to have in Florida and Tennessee which I learned from asking my local pet store for dubias. They recommended their discoid roaches instead since they cannot carry them here in Florida. What is your opinion on discoid roaches?
“Fruit Walks” I’m not sure why I found that so funny, but I was almost in tears. 😂 I was told that feeding meal worms to baby beardies, could cause compaction. Due to them being more of a crunchy snack, and not so much gooey insides. The digestive system of the baby beardie isn’t developed enough to digest the shell properly… I breed Dubai’s, and feed the occasional superworm kind of as a desert since they aren’t as high in protein as the Dubia. I’m just babbling now, but my question is, is this true? Can meal worms cause compaction?
Convinced me to try breeding roaches! My old veg has parts that start smelling funny or wilting before I can eat it almost always since I buy organic. I breed crickets and the sound is fine to me but the smell is too much and I hate being afraid they will bite me or my lizard or hop out when I try to feed them. Buying Dubias is expensive here so I’d likely just breed them to save money anyway. I have long been fearful of roaches but Dubia babies aren’t too nasty and they aren’t as scary to me as adult crickets with their gnashing jaws and fetid stench. Probably will continue breeding crickets but will start with roaches also!
Here’s another thing about dubia roaches, the may not be able to climb smooth surfaces but they seem to be able to do some sort of phase change and pass through glass, plastic, metal, stone etc. It took me months to convince my girlfriend it is ok to not only pay money for a cockroach but to allow it to live a pampered existence in our home. Now at least once a week I find one in the weirdest places. Usually dead but obviously successful in getting out of its SEALED critter keeper. Just now I found one, alive, in our clothes dryer! This fact can’t come to light or my scaly friends will lose any chance of dining on cockroaches again.
You can buy medium size Dubia Roaches ( 300 ) for about $50.00. I have 6 bearded dragons, from 2 – 3 months old. The 3 larger dragons can eat 80 per day @ 18 cents for each Dubia, that is $14.00 every day for food. 14.00 X 30 days, every month is $43.00 for just 3 sub juvenile bearded dragons. Wow, that is a huge amount of money to feed them. You best get a large colony of roaches started 3 months before purchasing any dragons.
I love dubia’s, my only problem is if they land upside down they play dead until your reptile loses interest then scurry away. If they land right side up they skip the playing dead part and just disappear. I usually have to tweezer feed my leo but then he misses out on the “hunt”. Crickets worry me because I’ve heard they are prone to carrying parasites. Finally, horn worms. They must taste delicious because all my critters lose their mind when they get one. They are expensive but seem to be 90% ” goo” so I assume that’s a good thing?
Some things not mentioned: Mealworms and superworms should be separated from the beetles. The beetles like to eat them. Also the beetles will fight and you will find dead ones once in a while. Mealworms and superworms also have a point on their tail. Not sure why. I don’t think it should harm anything. Mealworms and superworms will dig as soon as they hit soil. They also can escape from spider webs oddly. Mealworms will also die in their pupae form if as a larvae they didn’t drink enough. For them I slice up the cutie oranges once a week. I actually use oranges for all my breeding bugs because for some reason it’s an aphrodisiac to roaches. Dubia roaches like you said hide but will also dig. They also like to play dead. Sometimes for a while. I feed them to tarantulas and if it plays dead I risk spooking the t going back into the enclosure to poke the roach alive. To water Dubia roaches you can use Miracle grow water crystals or any shelf bought water crystal at pet store. Miracle grow is just cheaper. If given water they will drown. Dubia roaches are sexually dimorphic as adults. Males are long and skinny with wings and females have itty bitty wing looking things on them. I know you had a female for sure. Didn’t pay attention to the other roach. You can also sex them in the nymph stage even though they all look alike but it’s much more difficult. You have to count body segments and all. I’m sure you knew that all just thought I would add a few pointers
mealworms tend to be high in fat right? i always gave them to by breaded dragons as treats, they for some reason hated crickets, so i gave them small grasshoppers. they loved those. but i would avoid feeding a lizard like a bearded dragon a diet high in mealworms because they are so fatty. though ive never heard of a lizard getting a fatty liver? i guess its better to er on the side of caution
Ive got all of them and im still trying to figure out which is the best lol im just happy im finally done needing the smaller version of fruit fly for my mantis and T’s ive got the meal and super worms to the beatle stage now im waiting to see how long it takes to have useable offspring. Honestly i think i like the crickets best they breed like crazy and the Dubai are taking forever it seems
Personally, I put the activity of crickets in the cons. All that jumping makes it hard to get a hold of them with my tweezers, so they either escape into my apartment, or I try to just shake them out of their container directly into the enclosure and end up with twice the crickets I meant to put in there and ensuing nibbling problems.
What a great article! I always love your perspective and humor on things 😀 One thing you didn’t touch on was gut loading and dusting? Though I guess most people should know to do that. I feed a savannah monitor, so some of these aren’t relevant to me since they’re too small. I’m a little surprised you didn’t include hornworms? But they seem like the next level up of superworms. I am really squeamed out by roaches, being a Floridian, I’ve had too many palmetto bugs fly at me, and other bad experiences (like waking up and turning on the light to turn and see a roach crawl across my pillow where my head just was. NOPE!!). I’d almost convinced myself I should get into dubias, and then I learned they were illegal in FL (which makes sense, I always wondered how people kept saying they wouldn’t multiply if they escape.) So those aren’t an option for me haha. I don’t think I’m willing to try other roach types. I do keep crickets on hand, and try to have that be his primary diet. I have 2 keepers and got into breeding them a little partly from idle curiosity. I kept a tiny tupperware of most soil in with them an bam a while later lil wee ant-sized crickets came out. I thought it was my fault when some of the adults I’d buy seemed to die so quick, but I think it’s just how they are. I don’t have those problems with juveniles. A lot of the time I just buy adults locally, since my monitor can really chow them down, so I have 1 keeper for adults and 1 for youngins. I feel a bit proud when my babies grow up because I know they’ve been fed well their whole life and will be good nutritious food.
Do you think it’s ok to have a main diet of mealworms if I occasionally add other insects? I’ve always fed my leopard gecko mealworms because my parents don’t enjoy having crickets (I’m not fond of them either to be honest😅) but I’m ok with picking up a few occasionally for some variety. I’d like to be able to feed Dubai roaches but unfortunately they’re illegal here in Canada😑 my leopard gecko really enjoys superworms but i wasn’t sure if they were a good staple feeder for her, somebody told me they are higher in fat, I mean, Im assuming I could always feed less of them? Im not entirely sure yet😅
Best insects acording to my bearded dragon Diego 1. Live rodents, he hasnt eaten one, but he’s chased them 2. Dubia roaches, I’m not allowed to breed them so he gets these in small amounts 3. See no 1 4. Superworms, the only feeder mom will let me keep for extended periods of time 5. Crickets, he doesnt like how fast they are
So I have never heard anyone adress this. Are the Beatles stages of meal and super worms safe as feeders? My guess would be that as a Beatle they are moatly chiton so not nutritious and this it is bettet to use them for breeding but I also feel like some of the more stalker herps like geckos would find them fun eat.
Both of my mealworms and giant mealworms usually die a lot and fast. The mealworms dry up/turn black and the giant mealworms eat eachother. It’s why I have most of my mealworms in the cooler. I have both of them in oatmeal and give them different fruits/veggies aswell as cricket diet powder. Any ideas how to improve that?